Psalm 121 (CSB) 1 I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. 4 Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep. 5 The LORD protects you; the LORD is a shelter right by your side. 6 The sun will not strike you by day or the moon by night. 7 The LORD will protect you from all harm; he will protect your life. 8 The LORD will protect your coming and going both now and forever.
Every day is a day to celebrate the Advent of Jesus. With that in mind, it’s that time of year when I post past Advent reflections from my daily Bible reading plan to help us all focus on the season we are in.
Back in the days when the Lord was inspiring Scripture, it was believed among other religions that the “gods” came down on tops of mountains or they chose to live on mountain tops, therefore, adherents to that faith system would put their shrines on high hills as a place of worship. If are enamored with mountains and mountain climbing cultures like me, you will recognize this in how locals revere Mount Everest and the “god” associated with it, Chomolungma, “mother goddess of the earth”.
This Psalm is not an advocate for this worldwide practice or belief, because there are no other gods. There is one God, and that is the God of the Bible.
The God of the Bible does condescend to mankind’s experience in God’s eternal plan for Jesus, the Son of God, to come and take on flesh and meet mankind at his understanding in order to teach us the truth of who he is and how he operates in the world.
When his people, even out of a broken framework, look to the LORD, he comes to help them!
Who is LORD? He is Jesus.
Jesus is the Latin version of the Greek name Yeshua…Joshua…YHWH saves.
The hill in Psalm 122 to which the Psalmist looks should remind us that Jesus ascended a hill alive bearing the penalty of my sin and yours, and died in our place for our sin. He was carried down the hill and laid in a tomb, and he rose victorious over sin and the curse and death, and he ascended to the right hand of God to make atonement for sin for all who would turn to him in faith.
We look to the hill of the cross for our help, and where does it come from? It comes from Jesus, the LORD, who made heaven and earth, came on a mission to seek and save the lost, died in the lost’s place for their sin, rose, and ascended to rescue all of those who would repent and believe as well as restore heaven and earth.
Look to Jesus today! He will meet us on the hill of the cross where our victory has been won.
Theology in the Dirt 